Fogerty Arena & Curling History

1982: From Dreams to Reality

The dream of a civic center and ice arena to serve the communities of Blaine and Spring Lake Park was realized during the spring and summer of 1982, when hundreds of family members of the Blaine and Spring Lake Park Youth Hockey Associations came together, with a common goal, Ice Time! Thousands of volunteer hours were donated to construction, fundraising, and politicking, resulting in the North Suburban Civic Center opening its doors for the first time on October 25th, 1982. 

Now, 40+ years later, we are home to the Blaine and Spring Lake Park youth and high school hockey teams, and we proudly provide our services to all those visiting from around the world!

Soccer at Fogerty

The North Suburban Civic Center also became the site of the first indoor soccer facility in the area. We installed artificial turf on the rink floor at the end of the hockey season, and the area soccer players had a world-class facility to practice and play on to help prepare for the outdoor season. 

The spring indoor soccer program continued to be a big part of the facility, with hundreds of kids participating yearly until 2005, when hockey took over year-round

1985: The Loss of a Legend

In November of 1985, we lost a vital member of our Civic Center family. Francis “Fran” Fogerty, Mayor of the City of Blaine and a member of the Board of Directors passed away unexpectedly. Fran was one of three individuals who received special recognition for their extraordinary contributions towards the development of the facility.

On the evening of January 16, 1986, we installed a plaque in the facility that reads:

“Fran gave a total commitment to the building’s construction and its excellence. He cared for it when it was done. When he called it the ”ICE HOUSE,” it was not to diminish the building but to understate his contribution and to mask his affection and pride. This was so much like him. Because of this, the North Suburban Civic Center shall be named Fogerty Arena, “The Ice House.”

Since that day, Fogerty Arena has continued to provide the communities of Blaine and Spring Lake Park with one of the state’s finest civic centers/ice arenas. Hosting thousands of youth and high school hockey games, hundreds of tournaments from Mite Jamborees to state championships, and even N.C.A.A. events, such as the 2002 W.C.H.A. Women’s Final Five. Fogerty Arena and its staff continue to provide exceptional facilities for both local and regional users.

2001: Expanding to Meet Community Needs

In June of 2000, another chapter in our history began with the planning of our second ice sheet. Fogerty Arena “North” was another extraordinary example of the ability of the Spring Lake Park and Blaine hockey communities to work together to accomplish what many said could not be done. With the continued expansion of youth hockey and the addition of women’s programs at the youth and high school levels, it became apparent that another rink was needed. With the Fogerty Staff coordinating the effort and sharing the costs with both hockey clubs, the construction of the new rink, dedicated locker rooms for all four High School teams and permanent off-season equipment storage for the youth associations began. On November 11, 2001, after five months of construction, the North Rink was open for business, on time, and on budget.

2013: The Beginnings of Curling

In 2006, curling regained its medal status in the Winter Olympic Games, and the sport’s growth is exploding in a way reminiscent of how youth hockey expanded in this county after the “Miracle on Ice” gold medal win by the 1980 men’s Olympic hockey team. Demand for curling ice soared, and with only one other facility in the twin cities, combined with a need to renovate a 30-year-old refrigeration system in the original arena, a feasibility study provided the guidance we needed.

A third facility was built in 2012 with dedicated curling ice, space for a restaurant, and a new ice plant for both the curling sheet and the original South Rink.

On May 31, 2012, Fogerty Arena held an official groundbreaking ceremony, and the dream of a new curling facility finally became a reality. About two weeks later, about 40 curlers, both experienced and absolute beginners, came together to organize membership. Several weeks of hard work resulted in the creation of a Board of Directors and several committees tackling a variety of tasks necessary to establish the foundation and ensure the success of the club and the facility.

On January 2, 2013, the curling club at Fogerty Arena opened its doors, becoming the first year-round curling facility in North America; appropriately titled The Four Seasons Curling Club.

The Four Seasons Curling Club has positioned itself as a significant player in the curling world. Boasting a membership base of 650 curlers, we are one of the country’s largest clubs. We introduce curling to thousands participating in our Learn to Curl programs and through corporate or group outings each year. In the fall of 2013, Four Seasons Curling Club we broadened our footprint even further by becoming the official training site for the United States Curling Association. The agreement with the U.S.C.A. has allowed high-performance curlers to train here year-round with hopes of getting back to the medal podium at the Olympics.

Later in the winter of 2013, The Four Seasons Curling Club was spotlighted by hosting the inaugural TV series, “Curling Night in America,” which aired on NBC Sports each winter.

The Four Seasons Curling Club became the United States Olympic Training Center for Curling in the summer of 2015. Obtaining this designation has allowed Fogerty Arena and the Four Seasons Curling Club to create partnerships that continue to enhance the overall facility for all of our patrons. The state-of-the-art equipment we have in the John Bauer Dry Land Training Center, was was donated by Torque Fitness, Octane Fitness and Wagamon Raceway.

The pinnacle of the achievements for Fogerty Arena and the Four Seasons Curling Club was the hosting the 2017 United States Olympic Trials for Mixed Doubles in curling.

2021: A One-of-a-Kind Partnership with Moe’s

The most recent chapter in the continuing story of Fogerty Arena happened on December 9, 2021, when Moe’s Ice House took over restaurant operations after the arena closed Sticks & Stones Restaurant due to the struggles with the Coronavirus pandemic. Since Moe’s Ice House opened, it has allowed Fogerty Arena to focus on what Fogerty Arena does best: making high-quality ice for our patrons. Moe’s Ice House diversified and broadens the services that can be provided to our patrons when hosting a tournament, a curling bonspiel, or a corporate event or party at Fogerty Arena.

Community – Affordable – Athletics

The entire staff here at “The Ice House” invite you to come by and enjoy a match or two and enjoy a good burger and a nice cold beer while we strive to provide “Community – Affordable – Athletics.”

See you at the rink!